Preparation and Early Warning Application of Optical–Mechanical-Responsive Sensing Fiber

Fluorescent conjugated polymers exhibit great potential in bioimaging, sensors, and information encryption due to the flexible molecular designability and processability. However, the single stimulus response of traditional conjugated materials limits the extension in the smart field. For exploring the smart material with photo- and mechanical-responsive properties, the composite fiber of pyrene-based fluorescent polymer and liquid crystal elastomers was formed by wet spinning. This composite fiber possessed a bright blue fluorescence. As the temperature increased from 303 to 373 K, the sample presented a decrease in fluorescence intensity. The changes could be recorded conveniently by mobile devices to achieve real-time capture and analysis of the optical signals. Meanwhile, the luminescence fiber could be easily contracted and stretched through temperature control. Its breaking strength and elongation were 8.3 MPa and 178.4%, respectively. The composite fiber with dual stimulation effects of fluorescence change and elastic deformation achieves the efficient sensing capability of the material.